RCGP remains opposed to law change on assisted dying

The RCGP, the professional body for GPs in the UK, will
continue to oppose a change in the law on assisted dying, following a
consultation of its members. The decision was ratified by the RCGP’s governing
Council today.

Assisted death is illegal in both the UK and Ireland.

The member survey was conducted independently by Savanta
ComRes. Some 6,674 members from across the UK responded to the online survey
(representing 13.47 per cent of those consulted).

Members were asked whether RCGP should change its current
position of opposing a change in the law on assisted dying:

47 per cent of respondents said that the RCGP
should oppose a change in the law on assisted dying;

40 per cent of respondents said the RCGP should
support a change in the law on assisted dying, providing there is a regulatory
framework and appropriate safeguarding processes in place;

11 per cent of respondents said that the RCGP
should have a neutral position and;

2 per cent of respondents abstained from
answering.

The RCGP Council agreed today that the survey results did
not support a change in the College`s existing position on assisted dying. The
College last reviewed its position on assisted dying in 2014 following a member
consultation in 2013. The RCGP Council has decided it will not review the
College`s position on this issue for at least five years, unless there are
significant developments.

The College’s Chair, Prof Martin Marshall, commented:
“As the UK’s largest medical Royal College it is important that we engage
in debate and listen to what our members have to say on wide-ranging issues
affecting GPs and their patients.

“Assisted dying is a controversial topic and this was
reflected in the responses to our consultation. However, the highest proportion
of respondents said that the College should continue to oppose a change in the
law on assisted dying.

“This was the largest consultation on an issue of
public policy that the College has conducted both in terms of response rate and
volume of respondents. The survey results have been helpful in guiding College
Council as to what our position should be.

“The role of the College now is to ensure that patients
receive the best possible palliative and end of life care, and to this end we
are working with Marie Curie and others to support this.”

The consultation was sent to 49,539 RCGP members and was in
field from 29 October-15 December 2019. The survey captured responses from a spectrum
of RCGP members, with a response rate of 13.47 per cent, which was “broadly in
line with the industry average for this type of survey”.